WXV Divisions

[Holz]

I also think the Salary Cap points system will bite the higher placed teams this year if some of their stars have injury free seasons. Just looking at London I have an average team and did not have many injuries and yet finished above the cap due to the depth I have with most of my players playing a full season either in A grade or Reserve. (really hurt with rookie Rampe getting quite a few games)

This was the first season for the cap so lets see how it plays out in the second year. I can see competition evening out over a couple of years as Coaches steadily see their cap increase.

Good point ringo, I know I have sacrificed depth abit I assume most of the top teams have a little. We saw what happened to the dillos this year.

I agree with nrich trial it this year and see the flaws/strengths.

[Ringo]

Also like the idea if it is not too much trouble Os of running the system as a trial in parallell. may also allow you to workd out an ever better system taking the best out of both,

[ossie85]

Also like the idea if it is not too much trouble Os of running the system as a trial in parallell. may also allow you to workd out an ever better system taking the best out of both,

I may try that out! Will ignore home advantages, etc, but should give an indication

[CrowsFan]

I also think the Salary Cap points system will bite the higher placed teams this year if some of their stars have injury free seasons. Just looking at London I have an average team and did not have many injuries and yet finished above the cap due to the depth I have with most of my players playing a full season either in A grade or Reserve. (really hurt with rookie Rampe getting quite a few games)

This was the first season for the cap so lets see how it plays out in the second year. I can see competition evening out over a couple of years as Coaches steadily see their cap increase.

Good point ringo, I know I have sacrificed depth abit I assume most of the top teams have a little. We saw what happened to the dillos this year.

I have tried to keep depth in my side. Of the 41 senior listed players in my squad for next year 35 of them played at least one game in 2013. With 30 of them playing at least 5 games for the year :)

[Holz]

I also think the Salary Cap points system will bite the higher placed teams this year if some of their stars have injury free seasons. Just looking at London I have an average team and did not have many injuries and yet finished above the cap due to the depth I have with most of my players playing a full season either in A grade or Reserve. (really hurt with rookie Rampe getting quite a few games)

This was the first season for the cap so lets see how it plays out in the second year. I can see competition evening out over a couple of years as Coaches steadily see their cap increase.

Good point ringo, I know I have sacrificed depth abit I assume most of the top teams have a little. We saw what happened to the dillos this year.

I have tried to keep depth in my side. Of the 41 senior listed players in my squad for next year 35 of them played at least one game in 2013. With 30 of them playing at least 5 games for the year :)

Pumas don't count, you have a freak list. I had to raid my bench to put a team out in the field to take you out and it still might not be enough.

[CrowsFan]

I also think the Salary Cap points system will bite the higher placed teams this year if some of their stars have injury free seasons. Just looking at London I have an average team and did not have many injuries and yet finished above the cap due to the depth I have with most of my players playing a full season either in A grade or Reserve. (really hurt with rookie Rampe getting quite a few games)

This was the first season for the cap so lets see how it plays out in the second year. I can see competition evening out over a couple of years as Coaches steadily see their cap increase.

Good point ringo, I know I have sacrificed depth abit I assume most of the top teams have a little. We saw what happened to the dillos this year.

I have tried to keep depth in my side. Of the 41 senior listed players in my squad for next year 35 of them played at least one game in 2013. With 30 of them playing at least 5 games for the year :)

Pumas don't count, you have a freak list. I had to raid my bench to put a team out in the field to take you out and it still might not be enough.

Well it's nice to know I don't count :P I do look forward to playing your Eagles in the Champions league next season :)

[Holz]

I also think the Salary Cap points system will bite the higher placed teams this year if some of their stars have injury free seasons. Just looking at London I have an average team and did not have many injuries and yet finished above the cap due to the depth I have with most of my players playing a full season either in A grade or Reserve. (really hurt with rookie Rampe getting quite a few games)

This was the first season for the cap so lets see how it plays out in the second year. I can see competition evening out over a couple of years as Coaches steadily see their cap increase.

Good point ringo, I know I have sacrificed depth abit I assume most of the top teams have a little. We saw what happened to the dillos this year.

I have tried to keep depth in my side. Of the 41 senior listed players in my squad for next year 35 of them played at least one game in 2013. With 30 of them playing at least 5 games for the year :)

Pumas don't count, you have a freak list. I had to raid my bench to put a team out in the field to take you out and it still might not be enough.

Well it's nice to know I don't count :P I do look forward to playing your Eagles in the Champions league next season :)

we will see i took a little a big hit with goddard and gibbs losing DPP but will try and make up for it with some moves. Getting in martin was a good start.

Eagles and Pumas are pretty similar. strong depth, good mix of you and old. Going to be tougher to win the champs next year with some very good British and Asian sqauds making it in.

im happy with Euro's entrants Serbia, Sweden, Russia, Belarus.

watch out for the sweeds. Swan, Watson, SJ, Thompson, Montagna, NDS, Hayes

[CrowsFan]

Wait I thought Belarus didn't qualify since they finished 5th on the ladder?

[ossie85]

Wait I thought Belarus didn't qualify since they finished 5th on the ladder?

It's a conspiracy!

[Holz]

Wait I thought Belarus didn't qualify since they finished 5th on the ladder?

It's a conspiracy!

its a mistake.

sorry yeah its tough that Bisons missed out, the Polar Bears are deserving of a spot too (really in the euro there is a clear top 5). Just need to make sure you make that top 4 next year.

[Justin Bieber]

Wait I thought Belarus didn't qualify since they finished 5th on the ladder?

It's a conspiracy!

its a mistake.

sorry yeah its tough that Bisons missed out, the Polar Bears are deserving of a spot too (really in the euro there is a clear top 5). Just need to make sure you make that top 4 next year.

Them fire-breathing Polar Bears are to be watched :P.

[ossie85]

Ok, here is another idea (I know I've already released the roster :P but things can change if we like!)

I'm still trying to find that balance between keeping struggling teams engaged, making sure it is fair for all and having less meaningless matches.

... And I think this goes a long way to solving that problem.


3 Conferences of 6 teams each * see below for options on how the conferences could be split.

You play each team home and away in your conference (10 rounds).

The top 2 teams from each conference go into Division A

The middle 2 teams from each conference go into Division B

The bottom 2 teams from each conference go into Division C

You then play each team in your Division Home & Away (8 rounds, not 10, as you've already played one team in your division twice). Division A play for finals positions, Division B play for the final 2 spots in the final 8, and Division C play for pride and the spoon.

Finals:

Qualifying Finals:
1st Division A v 4th Division A
2nd Division A v 3rd Division A
5th Division A v 2nd Division B
6th Division A v 1st Division B

And like normal.

All up we'd have 22 weeks of WXV finals (up from 21 in the last two years - meaning we'd have to miss out on Rep footy).

I think this will make each game more significant, and have less meaningless games during the latter parts of the year. The bottom teams will actually have better chances of winning during the year.




*How to choose conferences?

I have three ways, but am happy to here other thoughts.

a) By location (this seems the most logical split, again happy to hear others):
Americas & Russia Conference: Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Moscow, Toronto, New York
Asia-Pacific: Seoul, New Delhi, Tokyo, Beijing, Pacific, Wellington
Europe-Africa: Berlin, Dublin, London, PNL, Cairo, Cape Town

Pros: Keeps the 'World' idea alive and proud, while creating even more geographical rivalry.
Cons: The Americas/Russia is VERY strong, while the Asia-Pacific is VERY weak. I can see a situation where a top 6 team in the comp goes into Division C, while a poor team finds a spot in Division A. Not necessary a bad thing, but we should go in eyes open


b) By point scorers from last year, while keeping 'rivals' in tact

Conference 1: Mexico City, Toronto, Dublin, London, Pacific, Wellington (scored 13,501 combined last year)
Conference 2: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Berlin, PNL, New Delhi, Beijing (scored 13,480 combined last year)
Conference 3: Moscow, New York, Cairo, Cape Town, Tokyo, Seoul (scored 13,872 combined last year)

Pros: Keeps rivalry, updates each year, and probably a fairer way for all
Cons: A little arbitrary


c) Team Captains

The top 3 teams from last year select the team they want in its conference - do they choose weak teams to give them the advantage, or the strong teams to improve the league?

Conference 1: Sao Paulo picks
Conference 2: Mexico City picks
Conference 3: Buenos Aires picks

Pros: Gives the top team reward
Cons: Could work out badly!


.... Plus any other option!

[Nails]

I don't think it's really broke and I like to subscribe to the theory "if it ain't broke..."

And I'm here facing the harsh reality that well in a couple seasons I'll probably be one of these struggling teams. I personally would prefer not to be stuck playing against all the showerty teams myself. Though this is obviously my opinion from not having experienced, although I have in BXVs where I came 4th last.

I think the fun in being a bottom team still involves playing the showerty teams, but yes you might have a couple years of being absolute shower, but then being able to see your team climb the ladder year after year as your young kids improve (most teams are shower because they're super young from what I can tell). Being able to see your team put away that team that crushed you by 30 points last year. That team that though the young little dillos were little pieces of shower. Then little dillos just get better year after year and crush them.

What about teams like Dublin that go from shower to not so shower? This doens't seem to account for them imo

I still like things how they are and see no real reason to change them.

3 Conferences of 6 teams each * see below for options on how the conferences could be split.

You play each team home and away in your conference (10 rounds).

This can also flower you, you could be a Div A team (based on skill) but due to a few key injuries to your best players over those rounds you perform like a Div B/C team.

No thanks.

[Justin Bieber]

Team Captains is like schoolyard picking, could go quite bad indeed :P.

The Conference system does keep the World's feel alive, but as you said, the Asia region is very weak in comparison to the Americas/Russia. The Europe-Africa region would be very interesting though, alot of final worthy teams there.

At least  if you start in the Divisions, you have that chance early in the season to get a chance at Division A footy, therefore Finals. Fixed that from the complaints! Then makes 2nd half of the season more even, although teams in Division C  will have meaningless games to end the season although should be competitive ones... May be a complaint some have there.

I'm not fussed keeping it the normal way or trialing a conference one (besides the current system to see how it would play out roughly). Just sorting out the Conferences may be tricky considering the power balance in continents already.

[Nails]

If option C occurred, I'm picking weak teams erry day.